Mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan
Bhutan: Mobile phone subscriptions was 789,606 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan is 789,606, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan peaked at 789,606 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
That places Bhutan 166th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 2,255 | — |
| 2004 | 19,138 | +748.7% |
| 2005 | 36,000 | +88.1% |
| 2006 | 82,078 | +128.0% |
| 2007 | 149,439 | +82.1% |
| 2008 | 253,429 | +69.6% |
| 2009 | 338,938 | +33.7% |
| 2010 | 394,316 | +16.3% |
| 2011 | 484,189 | +22.8% |
| 2012 | 560,890 | +15.8% |
| 2013 | 544,337 | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 624,536 | +14.7% |
| 2015 | 675,747 | +8.2% |
| 2016 | 698,373 | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 730,623 | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 703,554 | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 729,239 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 745,137 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 778,008 | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 742,882 | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 751,989 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 789,606 | +5.0% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 789,606 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.17 million, 6% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 789,606 is below the median for South Asia, which is 30.11 million, 3% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +748.7% | 2,255 | 19,138 |
| 2006 | +128.0% | 36,000 | 82,078 |
| 2005 | +88.1% | 19,138 | 36,000 |
| 2007 | +82.1% | 82,078 | 149,439 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 88,128 | 0 | 338,938 | 10 |
| 2010s | 614,580 | 394,316 | 730,623 | 10 |
| 2020s | 761,524 | 742,882 | 789,606 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More science & technology data for Bhutan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 99.76 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.9976 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 789,606 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 19.72 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 102.52 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Bhutan was 789,606 in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 789,606 in 2024.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Bhutan rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Bhutan ranks 166th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).